What ELSE could ASIC Mining devices be used for (Theoretical)

Bogart

legendary

Activity: 966

Merit: 1000

Quote from: crazy_rabbit on October 09, 2012, 01:23:35 PM

Quote from: DobZombie on October 09, 2012, 11:04:24 AM

If it isn't hardware disabled, this could be something intelligence agencies (or bad guys) might like to get their hands on.

That's a new business niche for all the GPU farms that are going out of BTC business.

I understand there are already ppl doing this as a security auditing service for WPA keys and such.

crazy_rabbit

legendary

Activity: 1204

Merit: 1002

RUM AND CARROTS: A PIRATE LIFE FOR ME

Quote from: DobZombie on October 09, 2012, 11:04:24 AM

If it isn't hardware disabled, this could be something intelligence agencies (or bad guys) might like to get their hands on.

That's a new business niche for all the GPU farms that are going out of BTC business.

DobZombie

hero member

Activity: 896

Merit: 532

Former curator of The Bitcoin Museum

If it isn't hardware disabled, this could be something intelligence agencies (or bad guys) might like to get their hands on.

ice_chill

sr. member

Activity: 336

Merit: 250

There was once a mention by BFL that the ASIC can also do some type of password cracking, but they disabled it so as to not run into any export restrictions.
But no mention whether it is hardware disabled or firmware disabled.

DobZombie

hero member

Activity: 896

Merit: 532

Former curator of The Bitcoin Museum

Quote from: memvola on October 09, 2012, 07:44:13 AM

Theoretically, you could invent a problem that is almost identical to Bitcoin block hashing, but it's unrealistic to expect to find an existing problem that fits that criterion.

Cheers

This was the kinda back 'n' forth I was looking for. Information and discussion. Not these twats that just jump on and yell IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!

Thanks bud! Grin

memvola

hero member

Activity: 938

Merit: 1002

Quote from: DobZombie on October 09, 2012, 07:29:21 AM

Quote from: -ck on October 08, 2012, 05:22:31 PM

I guess you're forgetting these ASICs will take a fixed length hex word describing a bitcoin block header and they output a nonce. They do not try to solve random length passwords or anything like that...

what's a nonce?

That's the number you are trying to find, it's what mining is all about. You try to find a number (nonce) that will make the block hash value lower than the target value.

https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Nonce

I would read the related articles as well.

Theoretically, you could invent a problem that is almost identical to Bitcoin block hashing, but it's unrealistic to expect to find an existing problem that fits that criterion.

DobZombie

hero member

Activity: 896

Merit: 532

Former curator of The Bitcoin Museum

Quote from: -ck on October 08, 2012, 05:22:31 PM

I guess you're forgetting these ASICs will take a fixed length hex word describing a bitcoin block header and they output a nonce. They do not try to solve random length passwords or anything like that...

what's a nonce?

-ck

legendary

Activity: 4088

Merit: 1631

Ruu \o/

Quote from: Blazr on October 08, 2012, 07:58:28 AM

Quote from: -ck on October 08, 2012, 07:41:20 AM

Quote from: DobZombie on October 08, 2012, 07:21:09 AM

Is there anything else out there that uses DBL SHA-256?

Just once more for good measure: NO

Not true, double sha-256 is actually used for many things. There is plenty of software/websites that use it to store passwords in databases, such as:

http://www.clipperz.com/security_privacy/crypto_algorithms

I guess you're forgetting these ASICs will take a fixed length hex word describing a bitcoin block header and they output a nonce. They do not try to solve random length passwords or anything like that...

ice_chill

sr. member

Activity: 336

Merit: 250

I guess the only real answer: we will find out once the ASIC becomes obsolete for Bitcoin mining.

DobZombie

hero member

Activity: 896

Merit: 532

Former curator of The Bitcoin Museum

Quote from: Morblias on October 08, 2012, 09:43:15 AM

How much would it cost per day to run it at 1.21 Gigawatts?

I believe you mean jiggawatts Tongue

Morblias

hero member

Activity: 576

Merit: 500

Quote from: Graet on October 07, 2012, 10:43:07 AM

Theoretically by adding a flux capacitor and a delorean it could become a time machine
But in reality - it has a single purpose - crunching double sha256

How much would it cost per day to run it at 1.21 Gigawatts?

Blazr

hero member

Activity: 882

Merit: 1006

Quote from: scrybe on October 08, 2012, 08:16:09 AM

Wow, your website needs 60 Billion encryptions per second? Or even 4.5? You must be bigger than google.

If you read again, you'll notice the question I was answering was:

Quote from: DobZombie on October 08, 2012, 07:21:09 AM

Is there anything else out there that uses DBL SHA-256?

Anyways, to answer your question, no, I don't think there is any website/software/business out there that would need an ASIC just to do password hashing, but a hacker trying to brute-force a password database would need something like 60 billion hashes a sec.

DobZombie

hero member

Activity: 896

Merit: 532

Former curator of The Bitcoin Museum

Quote from: Blazr on October 08, 2012, 07:58:28 AM

Not true, double sha-256 is actually used for many things. There is plenty of software/websites that use it to store passwords in databases, such as:

http://www.clipperz.com/security_privacy/crypto_algorithms

Cool!

I knew bitcoin wasn't the only thing on the planet to use this type of 11 year CIA encryption

This is pretty interesting...
http://www.clipperz.com/security_privacy/crypto_algorithms/sha_2_secure_hash_algorithms

scrybe

sr. member

Activity: 350

Merit: 250

Quote from: Blazr on October 08, 2012, 07:58:28 AM

Quote from: -ck on October 08, 2012, 07:41:20 AM

Quote from: DobZombie on October 08, 2012, 07:21:09 AM

Is there anything else out there that uses DBL SHA-256?

Just once more for good measure: NO

Not true, double sha-256 is actually used for many things. There is plenty of software/websites that use it to store passwords in databases, such as:

http://www.clipperz.com/security_privacy/crypto_algorithms

Wow, your website needs 60 Billion encryptions per second? Or even 4.5? You must be bigger than google.

The problem to most uses of double SHA-256 is the scale difference. Nobody is going to spend $1300 on some thing that they can do with a CPU without noticing the load.

The only workload being built today that can leverage the ASICs in the pipeline today is AltCoins. Some like PPCoin are even avoiding merged mining, which means that you should be able to follow an optimal difficulty path if you really want to have alternatives.

Blazr

hero member

Activity: 882

Merit: 1006

Quote from: -ck on October 08, 2012, 07:41:20 AM

Quote from: DobZombie on October 08, 2012, 07:21:09 AM

Is there anything else out there that uses DBL SHA-256?

Just once more for good measure: NO

Not true, double sha-256 is actually used for many things. There is plenty of software/websites that use it to store passwords in databases, such as:

http://www.clipperz.com/security_privacy/crypto_algorithms

-ck

legendary

Activity: 4088

Merit: 1631

Ruu \o/

Quote from: DobZombie on October 08, 2012, 07:21:09 AM

Is there anything else out there that uses DBL SHA-256?

Just once more for good measure: NO

DobZombie

hero member

Activity: 896

Merit: 532

Former curator of The Bitcoin Museum

Quote from: aqrulesms on October 07, 2012, 06:00:21 PM

Application specific means it can only be used for bitcoin mining, nothing else.

This has been said time and time again.

And you absolutely had to say it again.

If anyone else wants to jump on and say it's impossible, don't bother. We've already heard that. Cuz I can guarantee you, if there is a powerful device out there that becomes obsolete and may be destined to sit around, SOMEBODY will figure out a way to repurpose it.

I'm only interested in learning more, and getting ideas.

Quote from: ice_chill on October 08, 2012, 05:50:49 AM

It depends if the application is a custom build from the ground up, or if it uses existing standards that are used by other applications.
Bitcoin mining uses SHA256 processing, so it can processes SHA256 of other applications where the work is similar.
However BFL locks their firmware Bitstream, and they would have to open-source it before anyone can try to do anything else with the ASIC.

Awesome, some useful information with a point. So what you're saying is until these devices are released, and/or the source becomes open, no one could really know.

Is there anything else out there that uses DBL SHA-256?

What if somebody built a tech AROUND the ASIC devices? Possible or not?

ice_chill

sr. member

Activity: 336

Merit: 250

Quote from: aqrulesms on October 07, 2012, 06:00:21 PM

Application specific means it can only be used for bitcoin mining, nothing else.

This has been said time and time again.

It depends if the application is a custom build from the ground up, or if it uses existing standards that are used by other applications.
Bitcoin mining uses SHA256 processing, so it can processes SHA256 of other applications where the work is similar.
However BFL locks their firmware Bitstream, and they would have to open-source it before anyone can try to do anything else with the ASIC.

aqrulesms

sr. member

Activity: 373

Merit: 250

Application specific means it can only be used for bitcoin mining, nothing else.

This has been said time and time again.

Zeek_W

sr. member

Activity: 336

Merit: 250

Quote from: squeept on October 07, 2012, 10:39:23 AM

Quote from: DobZombie on October 07, 2012, 10:30:52 AM

Quote from: squeept on October 07, 2012, 09:31:01 AM

APPLICATION SPECIFIC
APPLICATION SPECIFIC
APPLICATION SPECIFIC
APPLICATION SPECIFIC
APPLICATION SPECIFIC
APPLICATION SPECIFIC!!!!!

Your mum was application specific too, and I was still able to get her to do other things.

Ya unhelpful knob

It can do double SHA256 while on your desk.
It can also do double SHA256 while on a shelf.
The engineers have also taken great care to make sure that it can do double SHA256 while you eat a sandwich.

With enough modifications, it could serve as a doorstop or a paperweight, but I fear the warranty may be voided.

I would not like them here or there.
I would not like them anywhere.
I do not like non-application specific tasks and mods.
I do not like them ASIC I Am.

Cool

Hmm doesnt quite flow well :/

Topic: What ELSE could ASIC Mining devices be used for (Theoretical) (Read 13507 times)